How to get rid of Ringworm

Ringworm as a fungal infection is fairly common. It affects various parts of your body, including the scalp, legs, arms, fingernails and toenails. It is quite contagious and you need to be careful if you or someone you know has it.

What are the Common Ringworm Symptoms?

Rough, scaly, dry skin with red colored round spots

Loss of patches of hair

Lymph node swelling

Fever

Sores with pus

Crusting

There are various anti-fungal medications for the treatment of ringworm, but they are not always effective, and some may have side effects.

Here are home remedies that will help you clear up ringworm without side effects.

Home Remedies that help Clear up Ringworm

Colloidal Silver

This is an excellent antibiotic and it is also an effective anti-microbial treatment. It has been used for various types of yeast infections and ringworm. It can destroy the ringworm infection in about a week if you apply it two times a day.

Nail Polish

First, dip a clean brush in nail polish (clear, not colored). Apply it to the ringworm areas. It suffocates the fungus so it can’t spread. Leave the nail polish on the affected area for 10 to 12 hours and then clean it off. This can be repeated for several days, and it will help reduce the areas affected by ringworm.

Oregano Oil

Oregano oil has strong anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, along with thyme and rosemary oils. Mix three to five drops of oregano oil with one to two drops of thyme oil and three to five drops each of rosemary oil and almond oil. Apply this oil mixture to your ringworm area three times per day. Oregano oil can also be used by itself, right on your ringworm patches.

Raw Papaya

Papaya has anti-fungal properties that help in getting rid of any areas of ringworm. Its enzymes reduce inflammation and kill fungus. Apply raw papaya pulp on the area of fungus. Leave it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off with clear water. Repeat this treatment two or three times a day.

You can use bulk papaya seeds for ringworm, too. Dry the seeds and crush them into a powder. Add water and create a paste. Apply this to your affected skin. Leave it sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water. This treatment can be repeated three times each day.

Raw Honey

The micro-dilution method has proven honey’s anti-fungal properties. Apply honey to the area that is affected. This will prevent the further growth of the fungi that cause ringworm. You also can mix raw honey with olive oil and beeswax. This is a trusted cure for ringworm, along with other types of fungus-related infections.

Camphor Oil

Mix camphor in powder form with some sesame oil, as a carrier oil. Smear this paste on your rash areas two to three times per day. You may apply camphor in a powdered form directly on the rash area, as well. A study has proven that camphor oil, along with some other essential oils, has anti-fungal properties.

Note – Camphor cannot be taken internally – it is poisonous.

Garlic Extract

Ajoene is a garlic compound with anti-fungal properties. It is helpful in getting rid of ringworm. Place slices of garlic on the area affected and wrap some type of bandage (not tape) around it to keep it in place. Leave it on the area overnight for optimum results. Repeat this process until your ringworm has disappeared. You can apply a garlic gel on the ringworm, if you find that easier.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar possesses anti-fungals, according to a micro-dilution technique. It works for curing ringworm, along with other types of fungal infections.

Soak a dry cotton ball with vinegar and then apply it gently on the areas affected. Wrap some type of bandage material (not tape) to keep it where it needs to be. If you repeat this process for several days, your ringworm will improve.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil has wax esters within it. They are helpful in treating skin conditions. Its anti-inflammatory properties play a vital role in treatments for infections on the skin.

Mix several drops of lavender oil with a few drops of jojoba oil. Apply this mixture to the skin area affected. Not only does it help cure the rash of ringworm, it also soothes it as it works.

Coconut Oil

In clinical studies, it was shown that coconut oil possesses anti-fungal properties useful for treating ringworm. Apply coconut oil to the rash area and leave it on overnight. This reduces the spreading of the infection.

Vinegar

Vinegar has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that are beneficial in ringworm treatment. Mix salt with the vinegar to create a paste. Then use the mixture on all affected areas. Allow it to remain on your skin for five to 10 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. This home remedy has the potential to cure ringworm within one week.

Note: Vinegar may irritate your skin. Don’t use it if it causes irritation.

Mustard Seeds

You can use this method when you soak mustard seeds with lukewarm water for about a half hour. Grind them into a paste. Apply it to the area affected and keep it on for about an hour. Wash the paste off using warm water. This paste relieves irritation and itching and helps clear up the ringworm.

Ginger Tea

Boil crushed ginger in water. Apply it to the area affected, using a clean cotton swab. You can make tea from the ginger and sip it a few times a day. Ginger helps to clear up ringworm with its anti-fungal properties.

You may add some water to salt and apply the paste to the fungal area with a washcloth. Rinse it off using warm water after about five or ten minutes. This can be done three times per day for a full week, to clear up ringworm.

Turmeric Juice

Turmeric is a traditional home remedy for ringworm, since it possesses strong anti-fungal properties.

Mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon turmeric juice and then swallow this mixture. You may apply the turmeric juice to affected skin areas. Use these remedies every day until they have cleared up the infection.

Vegetable Juice

Drink spinach and carrot juice every day, to cure the ringworm from the inside out.

Lemongrass Tea

Lemongrass is quite effective against fungus-related infection. You can drink tea made with lemongrass three times per day, and apply the used tea bags with lemongrass over the area affected, for better results.

Olive Leaf

Chew olive leaf three times per day until the fungus is gone. Olive leaf is an anti-fungal plant and can boost the performance of your immune system, too.

Herbal Remedies to Use on the Skin Lesions of Ringworm

Note: Do not take these remedies internally.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a wonderful ingredient for treating fungal infections and skin diseases. Apply the gel onto your rash areas three times a day. You can almost feel the gel working.

Tea Tree Oil

This oil is among the most effective anti-fungal, antibacterial treatments and it’s also a strong germicide. It has been used in Australia for generations. Applying it topically will help to cure ringworm rashes.

Mix water and tea tree oil in 1:1 proportions. Then apply the mixture to the skin that is infected, using a clean cotton ball. Repeat this process two times a day for about four weeks to cure your ringworm.

Calendula

This ingredient fights skin inflammation brought about by ringworm. Apply antiseptic cream that contains calendula two or three times a day for a week, for ringworm relief.

Goldenseal

This herb is commonly used in the US for skin infections, ulcers and gonorrhea. Boil the herb and apply it to the infected area with a clean cotton ball. Goldenseal has anti-microbial abilities that help in preventing the spread of the infection.

Chamomile

Chamomile is used a lot, due to its pharmaceutical and pharmacological properties. The essential oil from chamomile has fungicidal and anti-bacterial abilities, too. Applying chamomile oil or tea to your infected skin areas will help to ease the ringworm infection.

Myrrh

Myrrh has the effective ingredient sesquiterpene, and this is an anti-fungal property. You can make a paste with water, goldenseal and myrrh and apply it to the infected area three times per day. This is especially helpful in cases of ringworm.

Azadirachta Indica

This essential plant has been used traditionally for years, for skin infections. Crush the leaves and add a bit of water to make a helpful paste. This can be spread on the affected areas to help clear the infection. You may also add Aloe Vera gel to your paste, for even more effective results.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is quite effective if you apply it to the infected area. You’ll want to apply it a few times each day for maximum efficacy. It has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that are helpful in healing ringworm.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

This extract is a potent anti-fungal. Mix four or five drops of the extract with three tablespoons of warm (not hot) water. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and then apply it to the affected areas.

Holy Basil

Basil has outstanding medicinal properties. They have been studied in many experiments. You use basil by crushing the leaves and extracting their juice. Smear this on the infected area two or three times per day. You can repeat this treatment until the ringworm has completely healed.

Do’s

Take baths or showers after you play sports.

Keep your skin dry and clean.

Shampoo your hair on a regular basis.

If your skin itches, take care of it right away.

Take your pet to his vet if he gets ringworm.

Wash children’s hands after they have been playing outside.

Don’t wear clothes that fit tightly, as they don’t allow for air flow.